Game missile and projector therefor



Feb. 6, 1968 c. J. LOPEZ 3,367,659

GAME MISSILE AND PROJECTOR THEREFOR Filed Sept. 1, 1965 K J I I 137\ 42W 64M)! 0% 7? I 7 s.

United States Patent 3,367,659 GAME MISSILE AND PROJECTOR THEREFORGabriel J. Lopez, 1500 N. Wood St., Chicago, Ill. 60622 Filed Sept. 1,1965, Ser. No. 485,674 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-95) The present inventionrelates to games of skill of the type wherein an object is propelledtoward a target.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a novel game ofskill wherein an unusually shaped missile is propelled toward a net orother target in a trajectory which is controlled by the player. It is anadditional object of the invention to provide such a game wherein a highdegree of proficiency may be developed in controlled propulsion of themissile from a platform toward the target.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be appreciated from areading of the detailed description provided hereinafter when taken inconjunction with the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus comprising thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective of the missile, platform and aportion of the hammer and guide which encompasses the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective of an exemplary missile; and

FIG. 4 is a modified form of the invention.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments have beenshown in the drawings. and will be described below in considerabledetail. It should be-understood, however, that there is no intention tolimit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but, on thecontrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternativeconstructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1,apparatus comprising the present invention is illustrated therein, andbears. the identifying character 10. In the FIG. 1 embodiment, apropulsion unit 12 is constructed to forcibly hurl a missile 14 throughthe air towards a net 16, or other target. As illustrated, the net maybe connected directly to the propulsion apparatus where two or moreplayers may then aim at each others goal. The target may also be locatedin any other convenient place without departing from the invention.

The missile 14, in accordance with the invention, is of novelconstruction, and comprises a generally cylindrical body portion 20having at least one tapered end portion 22. Referring specifically toFIG. 3, there is illustrated a missile 14 having both ends tapered. Itwill be appreciated, however, for the purpose of the invention, that aslong as one end is tapered as at 22, the other end may be blunt, or takeon any other appropriate decorative form. The tapered end 22 resembles aconic section, and the missile may be formed either of wood or anyappropriate like metallic substance suificiently hard to withstandrepeated blows as will appear. It will, of course, lend itself to avariety of decorative color codings to distinguish the various playersmissiles, as well as other appropriate markings which will lend to theindividual nature of the missile itself.

In practicing the invention, the missile is forcibly propelled towardsthe target 16 by applying a sharp blow to the end section 22 of themissile. This, in accordance with the invention, is accomplished bymeans of a hammer 25 having an end 27 which may be tapered or bevelledsomewhat in order to increase the amount of area of the base of thehammer which will contact the missile 22,

thereby decreasing wear on the hammer. The end 27 is an integral part ofan elongated shaft having a handle portion 29 attached thereto. Thehandle portion is provided simply for convenient gripping of the hammerin order that the force, which is applied by hand in this embodiment,may be readily directed as desired.

The hammer 25 rides in any suitable guide orenclosu-re 32, which, asseen in FIG. 2, in this instance comprises a simple enclosure defining achannel 3 4 in which the hammer rides. The channel is so constructed topermit free longitudinal movement with sufficient play to permit easyoperation, thereby to serve as a convenient guide in order that theforces to be applied against the missile will be properly directed.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the missile itself is disposed upon apad 37 which is recessed as at 39 so as to receive the missile, holdingthe same in a substantially horizontal position, with slightly less thanhalf of the missile itself being seated within the confines of therecess 39. This may be readily viewed in FIG. 1 where the missile isshown in place on the pad. The pad" itself may be integrally formedwith, or be fastened to, the base member 42 which supports the guide 32.In the FIG. l embodiment, for example, the pad 37 is shown as formedseparately from, and thereafter attached to, the base 42- in anyconvenient fashion such as glueing. In the FIG. 2 embodiment, the pad isintegral with the base. From the standpoint of manufacture, theenclosure, the hammer, and the base and pad may all be made of wood, ormetal, as practical considerations dictate.

The base, immediately below the enclosure 34, is notched, as at 45. Thispermits the hammer to pass downward beyond the tapered end 22 of themissile. Thus, the force generated by the hammer against the missilewill cause the hammer to pass through the space occupied by the nose ofthe missile, so as to apply a blow on a line through the axis of themissile, causing the same to hurl end-over-end through the air towardsthe target 16. It will also be appreciated that, by adjusting the shapeof the recess 39 in the pad, the axis of the missile 14 may be tiltedslightly downward, or upward, whichever proves most satisfactory,thereby changing the trajectory of flight of the missile.

In order to permit optimum variation of the missile trajectory, theguide is, in accordance with the invention, mounted to the base by meansof a conventional spring hinge indicated generally at 50. The hinge (seeFIG. 2) comprises a pair of hinge members 52, fastened to the base, and54, fastened to the guide 32. A hinge pin 56 mounts a coil spring 58adapted to apply force against the hinge members 52 and 54, to bias themapart. FIG. 1 is illustrative of the use of the hinge 5t and shows thatthe force to be applied against the missile by the hammer may be appliedat various angles. I have found, through use, that control of themissile is especially good between 15 on either side of a 60 angle ofattack.

As seen in FIG. 2, the base 60 of the guide member 32 is bevelled, sothat the bias of the spring 58 will normally cause the base to seatagainst the platform portion of the device. This might be constructed toprovide a angle between the hammer and base, as indicated in FIG. 1. Inorder to get more or less distance on the missile travel, the angle maybe varied in accordance with the skill of the operator to hit thetarget.

FIG. 4 is illustrative of another embodiment of the present invention,wherein the foot, rather than the hand, might be used to apply thenecessary force for propelling the missile. Thus, a missile 114 which isadapted to be struck by a hammer which resides in a guide member 132defining a channel 134 therein, and is freely movable in the channel. Inthis instance, however, the

channel extends only through the lower portion of the enclosure.Further, the enclosure is slotted at the back as at 136, and a footpedal 138 is connected directly to the hammer 125 which rides in thechannel 134. The hammer 125 is of substantially identical constructionas that previously described, with the exception that it does not havethe grips for hand operation. Instead, the foot pedal 138 is provided.In order to return the hammer to its cocked position above the missile,as illustrated in FIG. 4, there is provided a suitable coil spring 140which is attached to a part of the guide 132, such as block 142.

The missile 114 seats on a pad 137 attached to or made integrally a partof a base member 142 which mounts the enclosure 132 by means of asuitable hinge 150. As perviously indicated, the hinge may be springloaded, or may provide a permanent attachment, depending upon whether amore economical version of the apparatus is desired. Again, the missileis propelled by being struck by the hammer 125, in this instance throughpressure applied by the players foot to the pedal 138.

An additional feature of the invention, a illustrated in the FIG. 4embodiment, is the provision of a reload chute 160. This may consist ofany suitable tubular member, conveniently formed of plastic or othersuitable material, and being bevelled at its lower end 162 so thatmissiles stacked in the reload chute or passed through the reload chute,will drop from the chute and seat on the pad 137 in position to bestruck by the hammer member 125.

Also seen in FIG. 1, is a pin 1.65 extending upward from the base member142, and having missiles spindled thereon. Each missile may be formedwith a suitable small hole in the body portion 20 thereof, so that theymay be placed on the spindle where a player may conveniently reach them.

It will now be apparent that the apparatus disclosed is capable ofproviding great enjoyment for any number of players, and, whilerelatively simple to operate, provides sufiicient appeal, and optionalpositions of operation, to permit the development of substantial skillin its operation and use, by increasing enjoyment to be attained fromthe manipulation thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. A game of skill comprising a base member having disposed thereon anelongated guide extending upwardly from said base member, a pad on saidbase member adjacent said elongated guide, a missile on said pad, saidmissile having a tapered end portion, said guide defining .a channel andbeing open at the end thereof adjacent said pad, a hammer disposed insaid channel for movement longitudinally thereof, the tapered end ofsaid missile protruding into said channel through the opening therein soas to be strikable with said hammer to cause said missile to bepropelled from said pad toward a target and means for moving saidhammer.

2. A game as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide is hinged to saidbase and movable with respect said pad so as to change the angle atwhich said hammer strikes said missile.

3. A game as set forth in claim 2 wherein means is provided with saidhinge for biasing said guide toward a position perpendicular with saidbase.

4. A game as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pad is formed with arecess therein so as to receive said missile partially within saidrecess for holding the same at a predetermined attitude with respect tosaid base.

5. A game as set forth in claim 3 wherein a chute is mounted to saidguide, and having the end thereof adjacent said pad and tapered so as toguide missiles in said chute into position on said pad.

6. A game of skill comprising a base member having disposed thereon anelongated guide extending upwardly from said base member, a pad on saidbase member adjacent said elongated guide, a missile on said pad, saidmissile having a tapered end portion, said guide defining a channel andbeing open at the end thereof adjacent said pad, a hammer disposed insaid channel for movement longitudinally thereof, a return springconnecting said hammer with said guide, the tapered end of said missileprotruding into said channel through the opening therein so as to bestrikable with said hammer and a pedal on said hammer adapted to bepushed by a player for moving said hammer against said missile againstthe bias of said return spring to cause said missile to be propelledfrom said pad toward a target.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,262,218 4/ 1918 Lindenberg27395 1,903,539 4/1933 Warner 27395 1,935,370 11/1933 Nekuda 273952,532,646 12/1950 Severin 273-129 2,993,696 7/1961 Demaline 273953,009,700 11/1961 Dolega 124-1 X ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner.

1. A GAME OF SKILL COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER HAVING DISPOSED THEREON ANELONGATED GUIDE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE MEMBER, A PAD ON SAIDBASE MEMBER ADJACENT SAID ELONGATED GUIDE, A MISILE ON SAID PAD, SAIDMISSILE HAVING A TAPERED END PORTION, SAID GUIDE DEFINING A CHANNEL ANDBEING OPEN AT THE END THEREOF ADJACENT SAID PAD, A HAMMER DISPOSED INSAID CHANNEL FOR MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, THE TAPERED END OFSAID MISSILE PROTRUDING INTO SAID CHANNEL THROUGH THE OPENING THEREIN SOAS TO BE STRIKABLE WITH SAID HAMMER TO CAUSE SAID MISSILE TO BEPROPELLED FROM SAID PAD TOWARD A TARGET AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAIDHAMMER.